Fishing Prospects For "Other" Species

by Kevin Patton

We hear a lot about bass, crappie, and bluegill fishing and rightly so because they are some of the most popular fish species with Illinois anglers.

This article is about some of the "other" species that are drawing interest from an increasing number of Illinois fishermen.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries, published four reports this Spring about the status of various fisheries. This article is a summary of the report for each species group: northern pike; striped bass and hybrid striped bass; walleye, sauger, and saugeyes; and catfish.

This is an attempt to look at some of the best prospects for fishing across the state, quoted directly from the more than 60 pages of reports.

There are no implied promises of success in the waters listed here nor is there criticism of those not mentioned. Some of the best fishing opportunities available will be highlighted, but these are by no means the only ones out there.

Be sure to check all regulations and creel limits on site, as these sometimes change. For more information, visit the IDNR main web site at:  www.dnr.state.il.us/index.htm or their I Fish Illinois web page at:  www.ifishillinois.org/

Northern Pike

Lake Le-Aqua-Na- Located near Lena in Stephenson County, nearly at the Wisconsin border, this 40-acre lake is estimated to have a strong pike population of 5 fish per acre that measure up to 38 inches and weigh up to 13 pounds.

South Spring Lake- This Tazewell County lake is located near Manito in Central Illinois and has a maximum depth of 10 feet. It provides an excellent habitat for pike growth. During 2008, 134 pike were caught in 20 nights of netting to provide eggs for the state-wide stocking of pike. Fishing March 1 through mid-May results in excellent catches of fish up to 20 pounds prior to the heavy growth of vegetation that occurs. Large white or yellow spinnerbaits, surface plugs, and jerk baits are productive. There is a 3 fish, 24-inch limit on pike and a 25 h.p. motor limit.

McCullon Lake- This McHenry County lake in northeast Illinois is 245 acres and averages 5.3 feet deep. It is rated as an excellent pike fishery that offers shoreline fishing and one small boat ramp. A handicapped-accessible fishing pier is located along the northeast shore in Peterson Park. The lily pads in the north and west ends are prime areas for pike. During 2007 netting, 167 pike measuring 14-32 inches and weighing up to 10 pounds were captured. Thirty-six percent of the fish were more than 24 inches and 86 percent were between 20-28 inches in length. The lake has a 3-fish, 24-inch limit on pike and 9.9 h.p. motor limit.

Des Plaines River- The area near Riverside in Cook County offers good fishing for pike, particularly during Spring. Fish between 20-30 inches are common.

Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass

Heidecke Lake- Located near Morris, this 1,300-acre lake showed good numbers of hybrid striped bass during the fall 2008 survey. Sixty-three percent of the fish were legal size and nearly 50 percent were 20 inches in length. There is a 10-fish daily limit for "stripers," which includes pure striped bass, hybrids, and white bass. Only three of the 10 fish may exceed 17 inches. Fishing hours are 6 a.m. to sunset and there is no horsepower limit, but boaters must have a gas-powered motor on their boat. This is a perched lake that becomes dangerous when it is windy. The bankfishing and handicapped-accessible areas are on the east side of the lake.

Clinton Lake- This 5,000-acre lake is just east of Clinton and offers a great chance for a nice striper below the spillway. White bass are rated as an excellent fishing opportunity. The 2007 fish survey showed pure striped bass between 17-32 inches in length. The limit is 10 fish total of pure stripers, hybrids, and white bass, of which only 3 may be 17 inches or longer. Anglers should notice all off-limits areas, lake rules, and creel and size limits that are posted on bulletin boards, signs, and buoys. There is no horsepower or speed limit on this lake, but there are no-wake, trolling-motor-only, and no-boat areas.

Lake Decatur- A strong white bass fishery exists in this 3,000-acre Macon County lake. Prospects for hybrids in the lake are fair, but are rated good below the spillway, especially during Spring. There is no limit for fish less than 17 inches, but anglers may only keep 3 hybrids or white bass over that length. A boating access fee is charged.

Charleston Side Channel Lake- Located in Coles County, this 330-acre lake is entirely a no-wake area. Anglers report catching hybrids between 2-12 pounds, with fish up to 15 pounds taken during fish surveys. The lake boasts a strong fishery for hybrid striped bass and prospects are rated good to excellent for 2009. Fishing is especially good during Spring near the pumping station in the southeast corner of the lake. The limit is 3 fish per day that are at least 17 inches.

Pittsfield Lake- Located in Pike County, this 240-acre lake had its best fish survey since 1982 last year. 116 hybrids were collected that were mostly between 19-25 inches in length and weighed between 3.5-8 pounds. Many of the fish here are caught be throwing spinnerbaits into schools of gizzard shad on the surface or by catfish anglers using chicken livers. There is a 17-inch length limit for pure stripers, hybrids, and white bass. Anglers may keep 3 fish, either singly or in total for the three species. The entire lake is no wake and has a 25 h.p. motor limit. Those with larger motors must remove the props from their engines.

Sangchris Lake- This lake is located southeast of Springfield and has a 25 h.p. motor limit. There is a very strong year class of 1-year-old pure stripers from 3-5 pounds and 3-year-old fish weighing 6-8 pounds. Despite producing state record fish, the larger fish are not showing up in the surveys, despite being stocked since 1983.

Baldwin Lake- Hybrid stripers grow very fast to 6-7 pounds in this 2,000-acre power plant lake near Baldwin. Fishing prospects for 2009 are rated as good. There is some increased mortality for fish weighing more than 6-7 pounds due to the accelerated life cycle in the heated water. There is a 3-fish, 17-inch limit.

Walleye, Sauger, and Saugeyes

Shabbona Lake- Located in DeKalb County, this 320-acre lake has a very good outlook for walleyes in 2009. Try fishing the outer edge of weed lines, in deep timber, and along the dam. There is a 6-fish, 18-inch limit.

Tampier Lake- This lake is known for its large walleyes. Fish the edge of weed beds. There is a two pole and line limit, as well as a 18-inch minimum for walleyes.

Heidecke Lake- Located near Morris, this 1,300-acre lake yielded an excellent collection of walleyes during the 2008 fish survey. The average fish was 16 inches in length. Sixty-three percent were legal size and 10 percent were 20 inches or longer. There is a 3 fish, 16-inch limit. Fishing hours are 6 a.m. to sunset and there is no horsepower limit, but boaters must have a gas-powered motor on their boat. This is a perched lake that becomes dangerous when it is windy. The bankfishing and handicapped-accessible areas are on the east side of the lake.

Evergreen Lake- This McLean County lake is home of the state record saugeye (female walleye and male sauger hybrid). A 2007 fish survey netted 68 percent larger than 15 inches and 33 percent larger than 20 inches in length. There is a user fee and 10 h.p. motor limit. The creel limit is 14-inch minimum, 6 fish per day.

Dawson Lake- Located east of Bloomington, the fish stocking was switched from walleye to saugeye in 2003. It is rated as a great fishery in a small lake. The limit is 3 fish per day that are a minimum of 14 inches.

Charleston Side Channel Lake- Located in Coles County, this 330-acre lake is entirely a no-wake area. Excellent catches of saugeye are reported by fishermen and the prospects for 2009 are rated as very good to excellent. The limit is 14-inch minimum, 6 fish per day.

Lake Shelbyville- This 11,000-acre lake has a good to excellent walleye fishery. Good numbers of fish have been collected that measure up to 25 inches in length and weigh more than 8 pounds. Prospects for 2009 are rated good to excellent. Anglers may keep 6 fish per day that are a minimum of 14 inches.

Pittsfield Lake- Located in Pike County, this 240-acre lake has a walleye population rated as good. Fish up to 26 inches and 8 pounds have been collected. The limit is 14-inch minimum, 6 fish per day. The entire lake is no wake and has a 25 h.p. motor limit. Those with larger motors must remove the props from their engines.

Carlyle Lake- The number of sauger collected here in 2008 was the highest ever, with fish up to 2.3 pounds. The condition of the sauger population is rated as excellent. Trolling is recommended in the lake and there is a dense concentration of fish below the spillway, which provides the best overall fishing.

East Fork Lake- Located near Olney this 935-acre lake has a quality population of walleyes that measure 18-22 inches and weigh 2-4 pounds. Many anglers caught limits during 2008 and it is projected to have excellent fishing for several years to come. Productive techniques include jigging and trolling on main lake points and rip rap along the dam and casting deep-diving crankbaits on main lake points. A city boat permit is required.

Walleyes in Illinois Rivers

Illinois River- There are good numbers of sauger and walleyes in the upper pools below the dams at Dresden and Marseilles. The major portion of saugers are below the Starved Rock dam and extend down to the Mississippi River, especially in the lower part of the Peoria Pool and at the Peoria Narrows. The limit is 14-inch minimum length, 6 fish per day for each species.

Rock River- There are good numbers of young walleyes and excellent numbers of mature fish in the river. They are growing well per survey personnel.

Kankakee River- There are good numbers and also a lot of big walleyes in the river. A 2008 survey showed that 44 percent of the fish are longer than the legal limit of 16 inches.

Kaskaskia River- There is an extremely high catch rate for walleyes and sauger below the Shelbyville Dam, which is rated as an exceptional fishing destination.

Catfish

Shabbona Lake- Located in DeKalb County, this 320-acre lake has catfish up to 15 pounds and angling for them should continue to be strong for 2009.

Lake Le-Aqua-Na- Located near Lena in Stephenson County, nearly at the Wisconsin border, this 40-acre lake has an excellent reputation for catfish angling and this year should be another ideal one.

LaSalle Lake- This 2,000-acre cooling lake in LaSalle County has a tremendous population of channel catfish of all sizes. Blue catfish in excess of 40 pounds have been documented. During a 2007 fish survey, 209 blue cats were collected in 60 minutes and during 2008, 113 per hour were collected using only one boat. The lake is rated as very promising. It is another perched lake that can become dangerous during windy conditions.

Hennepin Canal- The 180-foot wide canal is 96 miles long and runs through four counties and has an average depth of 4-5 feet. There is a strong population of channel catfish weighing from 1-7 pounds and a good population of flatheads up to 50 pounds. There is no size or creel limit and jug fishing is permitted.

Lake Storey- This 130-acre lake is located in Knox County near Galesburg and allows only electric trolling motors. There is a tradition of good channel catfishing during summer and fall, with an excellent density of 1 to 10-pound fish and a few up to 12 pounds. The limit is six fish per day.

Powerton Lake- Located southwest of Pekin, this 1400-acre Tazewell County lake has good channel catfish, as well as flatheads and blue cats up to 50 pounds. It is best in April and May near the warm water discharge, and again in August and September near the water intake area. Shad and cheese baits are recommended. The lake is closed during waterfowl season and no multiple-hook rigs are allowed. There is no horsepower limit. The shoreline is mostly rip rap and no dock is currently available at the boat ramp.

South Spring Lake- This Tazewell County lake is located near Manito in Central Illinois and has a maximum depth of 10 feet. A 2008 fish survey showed a large number of channel catfish between 2-15 pounds. One of the best areas during June and July is the rip rap along the levee. Fish after dark with minnows, cut shad, or shrimp. There is a 6 fish limit on catfish and a 25 h.p. motor limit. No multiple-hook rigs are allowed.

McCullon Lake- This McHenry County lake in northeast Illinois is 245 acres and averages 5.3 feet deep. Catfish over 5 pounds are typical. During the fall 2008 survey, 31 percent of the fish were at least 16-inches in length and 6 percent were longer than 20 inches. Access is limited to shoreline fishing and one small, undeveloped boat ramp. A handicapped-accessible fishing pier is located along the northeast shore in Peterson Park. The lake has a 6-fish limit on catfish and 9.9 h.p. motor limit.

Fox Chain of Lakes- Located in northeastern Illinois, catfish are very abundant in this fishery and under-fished. The average fish measured 18.6 inches during a 2007 survey.

Clinton Lake- This 5,000-acre lake is just east of Clinton has a good number of catfish from 8-16 pounds and contains flatheads as well. Some favored areas include: in front of the hot water discharge canal, with is open to boats April 1 to early October; near bridge openings that cross the lake; and the North Fork area. There are special regulations for trotline and jug fishing. Anglers should notice all off-limits areas, lake rules, and creel and size limits that are posted on bulletin boards, signs, and buoys. There is no horsepower or speed limit on this lake, but there are no-wake, trolling-motor-only, and no-boat areas.

Lake Bloomington- This city-owned lake is known for its good catfishing, with fish 4-16 pounds being common. There are good numbers of flatheads in the lake, as well as channel cats. The upper end of both lake arms and the area near the dam have produced in the past. There is a two-pole and line restriction. An access fee is charged and there is a 40 h.p. motor limit.

Vermilion Lake- Channel catfishing continues to be good here, with lots of 4 to 6-pound fish. The majority are between 13-22 inches in length. There is a two-pole and line restriction.

Charleston Side Channel Lake- Located in Coles County, this 330-acre lake is entirely a no-wake area. Prospects for channel catfish during 2009 are rated as good to excellent. Most fish collected during the 2007 survey measured 12-19 inches. There is a 6-fish daily limit.

Paris Twin Lakes- These lakes are a combined 220 acres and are located in Edgar County on the edge of Paris. There is good to excellent fishing for channel catfish. An access fee is charged and 6 fish per day is the limit.

Lake Springfield- This lake is rated as one of the best channel catfishing lakes in the state. The 2008 electro-survey was the best since 1982 and fish ranged in size from 10-26 inches. There are also blue catfish and flatheads in the lake.

Jim Edgar Panther Creek- This state Fish and Wildlife Area is located west of Springfield. Prairie Lake is the largest body of water with 210 acres and has the best channel catfish population. Fish range from 12-23 inches, with most being 18-22 inches in length. There are 10 ponds on site that also have good channel catfish and excellent bank access for shoreline fishermen. There are motor restrictions on the larger lakes.

Governor Bond Lake- Located near Greenville in Bond County, this lake is 775 acres. The fall 2008 survey collected fish 14-26 inches in length that averaged 19 inches and 2.6 pounds. Flatheads up to 44 pounds have also been captured.

Washington City Lake- The catfish population is rated as excellent and there are many fish in the 4 to 8-pound range. Fish averaged 2 pounds in the 2008 survey. The creel limit is 6 per day.

Carlyle Lake- The channel catfish population looks very good with fish averaging 3.7 pounds. There are also flatheads up to 42 pounds. There is no creel limit.

Sam Parr Lake- This 180-acre lake is located north of Newton in Jasper County. The channel catfish fishery is in great shape and fish between 1.5- 4.5 pounds are abundant. Larger fish are common and prospects for 2009 look great. There are excellent bank fishing opportunities. Productive areas include rip rap along the dam, the upper ends of the two main arms of the lake, and the backs of coves.

Rend Lake- Prospects for 2009 are rated excellent with an abundance of channel catfish from 1-2 pounds and fish up to 7 pounds common. It is touted as one of the premier lakes in the state for channel catfish. Drift fishing flats or near the mouths of larger coves with shrimp, cut shad, shad guts, or leeches is productive. Bankfishing near or in the sub-impoundments or along rip rap is also recommended.

Harrisburg New City Reservoir- Located one mile east of Galatia, this 209-acre lake has very good channel catfish. There is a wide range of sizes, with fish up to 12 pounds. The limit is 6 per day.

Jones State Lake- This 105-acre lake is 5 miles southeast of Equality. Channel catfishing is rated as very good with a wide range of sizes up to 10 pounds. The limit is 6 per day.

Kinkaid Lake- This lake is 2,750 acres and is located 5 miles northwest of Murphysboro in Jackson County. The lake has an unusually high population of channel catfish that are under-harvested. There are many fish in the 2 to 5-pound range, up to 20 pounds. Trotlines and jugs are permitted and there is no creel limit.

Crab Orchard Lake- Located one mile south of Carterville in Williamson County, this 6,965-acre lake has an excellent channel catfish fishery. During the 2008 survey, 97 percent of the fish exceeded 16 inches and 40-50 percent were longer than 22 inches. A Refuse User Permit is required and there are special waterfowl sanctuary regulations.

Catfish in Illinois Rivers

Illinois River- Anglers should be advised that there is a consumption advisory from the Peoria Pool to the headwaters. This is a quality fishery for channel catfish, which are found in numerous location including: tailwaters of the Peoria Lock and Dam; the Peoria Narrows; East River; Marshall County Conservation Area; Starved Rock; and near Hennepin.

Rock River- There are good numbers of smaller channel catfish in the river as well as a few larger fish. The best populations in the river are located near South Beloit, below the dam in Oregon, and just upstream from the boat launch in Erie. The best populations in the tributaries are located in Pine Creek, Rock Creek, and Elkhorn Creek.

Spoon River- Located in four counties in Western Illinois, there are healthy channel catfish and flathead populations throughout the length of the river.

Kankakee River- Catfish are abundant at Momence Island Park and within the Kankakee River State Park area. The population is dominated by larger fish with 72 percent being 16 inches or longer in a 2005 survey.

Fox River- The highest catch rates for channel catfish in the 2007 survey were at Wedron, followed by McHenry, Elgin, Geneva, and Milbrook. More than 50 percent of the fish measured at least 16 inches.

Des Plaines River- During a 2005 survey channel catfish were very abundant, with larger fish being captured near Riverside and numbers of smaller fish caught at Isle of Cache near Romeoville.

Embarras River- The highest number of fish were located downstream of Lake Charleston during a 2006 survey, near St. Marie. A few ramps are available for small boats and canoes.

Lower Kaskaskia River- The river downstream of Carlyle is rated as an excellent catfishing opportunity. Channel catfish are most abundant, followed by nearly as many flatheads, and an occasional blue cat. Productive areas include: tailwaters of Carlyle Lake, where channel cats range from 1-5 pounds; the rocky section near Gen Dean Bridge for big flatheads; the 36-mile navigation channel below Fayetteville for numbers and size of fish; near Evansville for channel catfish; near New Athens for flatheads; and the two dozen oxbow lakes that are still connected to the river, especially near Baldwin.